Clothesline holder



APl 21, 1942- c. H. JOHNSON l 2,280,526

CLOTHESLINE HOLDER Filed Nov. 22, 1940 me/who@ l Patented pr. 21, 1942 i l I 2,280,526 CLoTnEsLINE HOLDER' Clarence H. Johnson, Lanesboro, Pa., assigner of one-half to Edmond J. Ahearn, Susquehanna, Pa.

Application November 22, 1940; Serial No. 366,7 35

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clothes line holders.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clothes line holder comprising a pair of clothes line supports adapted for convenient mounting in spaced relation upon a wall, post, stand or other holder with a clothes line extending between the supports with resilient means associated with each support and acting to move the clothes line supports away from each other so that a clothes line attached to the supports will maintain a constantly taut condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes line holder wherein a pair of clothes line supports or holder members are spring pressed into frictional engagement with a supporting structure for the clothes line holder with a clothes line extending between the holder members, the frictional engagement between the holder and supporting structure being operative to resist rotary movements of the clothes line holder elements when clothes or other articles are suspended from the clothes line. v

It is a further and important object of the invention to provide a clothes line holder of extremely simple construction, one that can be inexpensively manufactured and which may be constructed of any size desired.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a clothes line holder constructed in accordance with the -present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1, showing the holder attached to a support that is shown in section and illustrating the tensioned and rotatable mounting of a clothes line holder element; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing the support engaging plate and spindle carried thereby for the rotatable support of a clothes line holder element.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated a clothes line holder comprising a pair of clothes line holder elements or frames, each comprising a pair of crossed bars I and I I connected together at their points of intersection or crossing, preferably by four nut and bolt combinations I2 in proximity of the corners of said crossing points as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

A journal bearing is provided for the rotatable support of each frame and as shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a plate I3 having counter-sunk openings I4 therein for the passage of anchor screws I5 or the like for attaching the plate to a support I6 upon which the .clothes line holder is to be mounted. A spindle I1 facially projects from one side of the plate I3 at right angles thereto and is threaded as at I8 at its outer end and as shown in Figure 3, the intersecting points of the crossed bars I6 and II have registering openings I9 therein for the rotatable mounting of the frame upon the spindle I1, a washer or wear plate 2l] being mounted on the spindle I1 between the plate I3 and the outer bar I0 of the frame.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, the threaded end I8 of the spindle II projects a considerable distance inwardly of the clothes line holder frame and has a vcoil spring 2| mounted thereon, a washer 22 being mounted upon the spindle I'I between the adjacent side of the cross bar Il and the inner end of said spring 2l, while a washer 23 mounted upon the outer threaded end I8 of the spindle engages the outer end of said spring 2l, while the tension of said spring is varied by means of the nut 24 threaded upon the outer end I8 of said spindle.

A clothes line engaging hook 25 is carried by the inner face .of each of the cross bars ID and Il adjacent the outer ends thereof for the attachment of a clothes line 26, the latter being illustrated in Figure 1 as comprising a single strand with the ends thereof attached to two hooks while intermediate portions thereof are looped over other hooks, but it is to be understood that the clothes line may include a plurality of separate strands connecting corresponding hooks between the end frames.

With the two clothes line holder frames mounted upon spaced supports I6 and with the clothes line 26 extending therebetween, the tension of the springs 2l is adjusted by the nuts 24 to place the clothes line 26 under the desired tension for the elimination of sagging of the line when clothes are suspended therefrom- The tension of the clothes line 26 also acts upon the end frames to move them into friotional engagement with the supports I6 for restraining rotary movements of the frames upon the spindles l1 to insure the proper suspension of clothes from the line.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and while there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a clothes line holder construction of the character described wherein a clothes line is attached to spaced holders and wherein the holders are attached to spaced supports, each holder including a pair of crossed arms rigidly connected together at their crossing points, a clothes line extending between corresponding ends of the crossed arms of the two holders, and a pivotal connection between each holder and its support whereby clothes may be hung upon each line between the ends of the crossed arms upon rotation of the holders While standing at one side of the -clothes line.

2. A clothes line holder construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection includes a spindle carried by the support extending through an opening at the crossed points of the arms, and means for retaining the holders in position on the spindles.

3. A clothes line holder construction as set forth in claim l, wherein the pivotal connection includes a spindle carried by the support extending through an opening at the crossed points of the arms, and a spring and nut combination associated with the spindle and holder for moving the holder into frictional engagement with its support.

CLARENCE H. JOHNSON 

